Nectarine tree named ‘Grand Candy’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree,  Prunus persica,  and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium sized, vigorous, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the third week in July, with first picking on Jul. 4, 1998. The fruit is uniformly large in size, subacidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, firm and crisp in texture, and fully red in skin color. The variety was a first generation cross using Ruby Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,918) nectarine as the selected seed parent and an unnamed seedling as the selected pollen parent.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of fresh market andshipping fruits, I, the inventor, typically hybridize a large number ofnectarine and peach seedlings each year. The present invention relatesto a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree (Prunus persica), whichhas been denominated varietally as ‘GRAND CANDY’. The present varietywas hybridized in 1992, grown as a seedling on its own root in thegreenhouse, and transplanted to a cultivated area of my experimentalorchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). It was developed as a first generation cross using RubyDiamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,918) nectarine as the selected seedparent and an unnamed nectarine as the selected pollen parent.Subsequent to origination of the present variety of nectarine tree, Iasexually reproduced it by budding and grafting, in the experimentalorchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruitcharacteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. Thereproduction of the variety included the use of Nemaguard Rootstock(unpatented), the standard of the stone fruit industry in centralCalifornia, upon which the present variety was compatible and true totype.

The present variety is most similar to Fire Sweet (U.S. Plant Pat. No.9,961) nectarine, by producing fruit that is full red in skin color,yellow in flesh color, clingstone in type, subacidic and sweet inflavor, and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom and animprovement thereon by having globose instead of reniform glands and byproducing fruit that matures about ten days earlier and that has lessred streaking in the flesh.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent, Ruby Diamond (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 7,918) nectarine, by producing firm, full red, yellowflesh, nectarines, but is distinguished therefrom by producing fruitthat is clingstone instead of freestone in type, that is subacidicinstead of acidic in flavor, and that matures about twelve days later.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruitdivided transversely to the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone,and typical leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more sepcifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved of a 6 year-old tree grown under the ecological conditionsprevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif.,and was developed at the state of hard shipping ripe on Jul. 20, 1998.All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-SocietyColor Council, National Bureau of Standards.

TREE

Size: Medium, reaching and maintaining a height of 11′ [3.35 meters]after the 6th growing season utilizing typical dormant pruning.

Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and fertilization.The plant should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock forproduction purposes. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 meters] of surplustop-growth during the spring and summer.

Growth: Spreading and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy with respect to typical central California winters.

Production: Very productive, thinning required.

Fertility: Self-fertile.

Bearing: Regular bearer, with no alternate bearing observed.

Trunk:

Size.—Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 6″ [152 mm.] after 6growing seasons.

Texture.—Rough.

Bark color.—Grayish yellowish brown [80. gy.yBr].

Lenticels.—Numerous. Color: Deep orange yellow [69. deep OY]. TypicalSize: {fraction (3/16)}″ to ⅜″ [4.8-9.5 mm.].

Branches:

Size.—Medium, typical of Prunus persica.

Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Light grayish red [18. l.gy.R]. 1st YearWood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older Wood: Deepyellowish brown [75. deep yBr].

Texture.—Smooth on 1st year wood, increasing roughness with age.

Lenticels.—Numerous. Color: Light orange yellow [70. l.OY]. Size: ⅛″ to¼″ [3.2-6.4 mm.].

Leaves:

Size.—Medium. Average Length: 5″ [127.0 mm.]. Average Width: 1½″ [38.1mm.].

Thickness.—Medium.

Form.—Elliptical.

Apex.—Acuminate.

Base.—Acute.

Surface.—Smooth.

Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. VentralSurface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.—Finely serrate.

Venation.—Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.—Average Length: ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Average Thickness: {fraction(1/16)}″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Light yellow green [119. l.YG].

Stipules.—2 per leaf bud, up to 6 at the growing tip. Average Length: ⅜″[9.5 mm.].

Glands.—Numbers: 2 to 3 per leaf. Position: Alternately positioned onpetiole and base of blade. Size: Medium. Form: Globose. Color: Lightyellow green [119. l.YG].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to central California winters.

Diameter.—Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Length.—Typically ¾″[19.1 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Form.—Not appressed.

Color.—Brilliant purplish pink [246. brill, p. Pk.].

Surface.—Pubescent.

Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,typically thirty or more stamens, five sepals and petal locationsalternately positioned.

Blooming period.—Medium as compared with other varieties.

Onset of bloom.—One percent on Mar. 4, 1998.

Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature.

Type.—Showy.

Number of petals.—Usually five, some doubles.

Number per cluster.—Generally from 1 to 3.

Petal shape.—Rounded.

Petal margin.—Slightly wavy.

Average petal diameter.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].

Petal color.—Pale purplish pink [252. p.pPk].

Anther color.—Dark red [16. d.R] when first opened.

Average pistil length.—{fraction (13/16)}″ [20.6 mm.].

Fragrance.—Strong when nectar is present.

Average diameter.—1⅞″ [47.6 mm.].

FRUIT

Maturity when described: hard shipping ripe, Jul. 20, 1998.

Date of first picking: Jul. 14, 1998.

Date of last picking: Jul. 23, 1998.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.—2⅝″ [66.7 mm.].

Average diameter across suture plane.—2⅞″ [73.0 mm.].

Typical weight.—6.88 ounces [195 grams].

Form: Globose, uniform, mostly symmetrical.

Longitudinal section form.—Round.

Transverse section through diameter.—Round.

Suture: A shallow groove from the stem along the lateral surfacebecoming more pronounced toward the apex with a depression beyond thepistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded.

Lips: Slightly unequal usually, but often equal.

Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side, stem markingstypical on both sides of the shoulder.

Depth.—½″ [12.7 mm.].

Breadth.—1⅛″ [25.7 mm.].

Base: Truncate.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: Oblique, very short in length, depressed within thesuture.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].

Average width.—{fraction (3/16)}″ [4.8 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.—Medium.

Texture.—Medium.

Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.—None observed.

Color.—Dark red [16. d.R] smoothly blending into a strong reddish orange[35. s.rO] background, brilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY] stemmarkings on both sides of the shoulder, and some strong orange yellow[68. s.OY] freckling toward the apex.

Flesh:

Color.—Brilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY] with the slightest amountof moderate red [15. m.R] flecking usually closer to the stone.

Surface of pit cavity.—Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] with a tinge ofmoderate red [15. m.R] fibers breaking when twisted away from the stone.

Amygdalin.—Scarce.

Juice.—Abundant, rich.

Texture.—Firm, crisp.

Fibers.—Abundant, fine.

Ripens.—Earliest at the apex.

Flavor.—Subacidic and sweet, typically 15 to 17 brix.

Aroma.—Very slight.

Eating quality.—Very good.

STONE

Type: Clingstone.

Form: Oval.

Base: Slightly oblique.

Apex: Acute.

Hilum: Narrow.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed throughout, pitted toward the base.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

Color: Light brown [57. l.Br] when first removed from fruit.

Pit wall: ¼″ [6.4 mm.] thick.

Tendency to split: None observed.

Kernel:

Form.—Oval.

Taste.—Bitter.

Viable.—Yes.

Average width.—{fraction (9/16)}″ [14.3 mm.].

Average length.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].

Pellicle color.—Grayish brown [61. gy.Br].

Skin color.—Pale yellow [89. p.Y] with light brown [57. l.Br] veins whenfirst removed from stone.

Amygdalin.—Abundant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Fruit quality observed to remain in good condition inexcess of 30 days in cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantiallyas illustrated and described, that is most similar to Fire Sweet (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 9,961) nectarine, by producing fruit that is full red inskin color, yellow in flesh color, clingstone in type, subacidic andsweet in flavor, and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom andan improvement thereon by having globose instead of reniform glands andby producing fruit that matures about ten days earlier and that has lessred streaking in the flesh.